The Success Through Communications Course is an entry-level
Scientology course, and is many people's first introduction to the
cult's practices. It appears at the bottom of the big chart of The
Bridge on display in every Scientology org. The course covers TR 0-4,
while the follow-on Hubbard Qualified Scientologist Course covers the
upper-level TRs plus a taste of various other Scientology topics, such
as the eight dynamics, the tone scale, "word clearing", and "assists".
The two courses use the same book: an 8.5x11 softcover volume with
large type, like a children's book. Many pages contain a single large
cartoon illustration.

Although the TRs when sold at the introductory level are supposed to
facilitate "communication", by TR 4 it becomes clear that the real goal
is preparation for learning "auditing" -- and for being audited.

This image from the HQS book is the fourth in a sequence illustrating
the TR 4 drill known as "Preclear Originations". The student auditor
(the woman) has asked the auditing question "Do fish swim?" and been
told in response by the coach, simulating a preclear, "I have a pain
in my stomach." She dismisses (Scientologists would say
"acknowledges") this "preclear origination" with "I understand", and
then, as shown above, repeats the auditing question. She must persist
in this manner until the preclear has answered the question. In the
figure she is displaying good "confront" (TR 0) by staring directly at
the preclear and remaining motionless as she repeats the question.

One wonders about the smiles on the particpants' faces; in the previous
panels the preclear has a pained expression as he describes his stomach
ache, and the auditor is shown with an even sorrier looking "mental
picture" of his distress as she acknowledges (in reality, dismisses) his
comment. The subtext in this last panel seems to be this: by forcibly
refocusing the preclear's attention on adherence to Scientology ritual, his
stomach pain is alleviated and he is made happy again. (This is in fact the
rationale behind Scientology "assists".)

It's also worth noting the violation of norms for personal space inherent
in the positioning of the student and coach in the image, a technique
designed to increase tension (and especially effective with partners of
mixed gender.) This is discussed further in Perry
Scott's critique and Dick Sutphen's essay as
cited on the main TR page.